The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 749: Golden-scaled Dragon Fish!

Golden-scaled Dragon Fish! . . .

"Over there! Block the way!" The frenzied cries echoed through the icy expanse.

"Do not let it escape!"

"I see it... Damn it! Why didn't you catch it? It was right in front of you just now!"

"You think I don't want to catch it? It's just too fast... Here it comes..."

"Focus! Focus! Everybody, be careful..."

The air resonated with an escalating chorus of shouts, transforming this tranquil locale into a clamorous frenzy of activity.

Upon hearing the frantic exclamations of those pursuing a mysterious quarry, Cha Eun Xiao rapidly discerned the unfolding events, for he was intimately acquainted with this place.

This was the Polar Ice River, and the source of the tumult was...

Cha Eun Xiao peered down through the crystalline ice into the watery depths below. As he expected, he spotted something: a crimson shadow darting with astonishing speed. It appeared just a dozen meters to the left but, in the blink of an eye, had traversed thousands of meters to the right.

What was this astonishingly swift-moving entity?

Well, it was not the sole inhabitant of these rapid waters.

Suddenly, a figure streaked overhead, moving with astounding velocity, the sheer force of which tousled Cha Eun Xiao's hair. It was the epitome of sheer celerity.

Almost simultaneously, another figure glided past like a bolt of lightning. In his haste, Cha Eun Xiao was jostled and pushed as they hurtled by. The fellow who brushed past him admonished, "Are you daft? Why stand there like a statue? It just passed beneath your feet. Why didn't you seize it? What a wasted opportunity..."

In swift succession, more figures zipped past, a seemingly endless procession. Cha Eun Xiao scarcely had time to discern the details as he was jostled and bumped about repeatedly.

Dizzy and unsteady, he found it challenging to maintain his footing.

These individuals were clearly in a rush, their attention singularly focused on the entity beneath the ice.

A crimson shadow continued to dart about, shifting from west to east, and its swift movements lent the impression of painting the entire river's surface in shades of red.

"Capture it! Don't let it get away!" A white-haired elder soared overhead, brandishing a sword. "Put away your swords, you imbecile! Be careful..."

"Block it! Block it..." another voice cried.

Cha Eun Xiao was left stupefied by the ongoing spectacle.

He had believed it to be a stroke of misfortune to find himself submerged in the Polar Ice River, but in reality, his circumstances were far more dire.

"What a stroke of abysmal luck! Look at what I've stumbled upon," Cha Eun Xiao lamented, his frustration mounting. "Why is fortune so against me?"

It was becoming increasingly clear what was unfolding.

Within the Polar Ice River resided a mysterious and sentient creature known as the Golden-scaled Dragon Fish. This river was its sole habitat, nestled amidst various ice mountains. The climate was frigid, with surface water frozen solid, yet beneath the surface, the river flowed freely, thanks to the presence of the Golden-scaled Dragon Fish.

This extraordinary fish possessed the unique ability to prevent the river's waters from freezing, acting as a living conduit of warmth.

The tales of the Golden-scaled Dragon Fish stretched back hundreds of millennia.

As the Golden-scaled Dragon Fish matured, its speed increased exponentially. In its infancy, it was relatively sluggish and easier to capture, although juvenile specimens held little value. Only the mature Golden-scaled Dragon Fish possessed an array of astonishing virtues, making them highly sought after. However, these mature fish were among the swiftest creatures on the planet, rendering their capture a near-impossible feat.

In addition to their remarkable swiftness, mature Golden-scaled Dragon Fish boasted considerable cultivation prowess, approaching the strength of Dao Origin Stage cultivators. Engaging in a fair contest with one was a daunting proposition, let alone contending with its staggering velocity. Those who dared to pursue such a creature risked their lives.

Consequently, few succeeded in capturing a Golden-scaled Dragon Fish, despite the fervent desire of countless individuals to do so.

Indeed, the odds were slim.

Nevertheless, there had been instances in history where someone managed to capture this elusive creature. How had such a feat been accomplished?

The Golden-scaled Dragon Fish underwent three distinct life stages beyond its infancy and maturation. After ten millennia of existence, it entered the third and final stage: the dragonize stage. During this critical period, the fish faced both opportunity and peril. If it successfully navigated the dragonize trial and attained the status of a dragon, it would ascend to the skies and roam the world at will.

Nonetheless, this phase was fraught with risk and lasted a mere fraction of its lifetime. It encompassed two pivotal phases: the reserve phase, which constituted the initial part of the dragonize stage. Here, the fish sought to conserve its internal energy by minimizing its movements, effectively rendering itself a dormant, volatile bomb. Any external force could trigger a cataclysmic explosion.

This suicidal eruption was the most formidable attack known in the entire Qing-Yun Realm, one that no one dared to confront. Although the fish appeared immobile during this phase, it was paradoxically at its most perilous. Capturing it was an insurmountable challenge during this period, unless one sought a swift demise.

The subsequent phase lasted a mere three days and represented the zenith of the dragonize stage. On the first day, the fish gradually shrank in size until it resembled a man's hand. The second day witnessed the gathering of its energy, followed by a release of ninety percent of its power to freeze the river.

The dragonize trial commenced exclusively within the confines of the frozen river. A rainbow gate materialized during the final day, enabling the fish to breach the icy surface and enter the portal. Upon crossing this threshold, it metamorphosed into a resplendent golden dragon.

Upon passing through the rainbow gate, the fish reclaimed its energy from the river, reinitiating its flow. Consequently, the water would give rise to new Golden-scaled Dragon Fish, while the golden dragon would depart this world to enter the upper realm.

This was the extraordinary tale of the Golden-scaled Dragon Fish.

In another world, when the river became entirely frozen, it signaled that a Golden-scaled Dragon Fish was on the brink of dragonizing. This juncture represented its most vulnerable phase during its entire existence.

This singular moment presented the only opportune occasion to capture it.

Seizing a Golden-scaled Dragon Fish and consuming its inner core bestowed tremendous fortune. It would catalyze the growth of a seed within the human body, enhancing its inherent power. Furthermore, the energy contained within the inner core would gradually be assimilated, ensuring the complete absorption of the ten thousand years' worth of spiritual qi.

In essence, this was an express route to the upper realm, facilitating the assimilation of ten thousand years of spiritual might and ten thousand years of cultivation.